Why am I discontinuing the lines? I plan to focus more on my web design business, Hollen Zoo Designs.  I found that I loved making soaps, I just did not love doing sales calls.  It turns out that 90% of what I had to do was sales.  It was just not a good fit and not at all where I shined– actually I would say that I pretty much would receive a F in sales.  Maybe I was so bad, because I was too close to the product I was trying to sale, but I think sales is a gift, and I admire anyone that is able to do it with finesse.  I did, through the process of owning a business find where I did shine, outside of brewing soaps, was programing websites.  Yes, I loved it so much my idea of a fun Friday night is a glass of wine and php code.

Through a natural process, the design business started taking off, leaving me little time for the part of Jackson Sage I despised, sales calls and demos (please please please be nice to the lady doing demos in the grocery store!).  Leaving me with two choices, close Jackson Sage or down size.  I love Jackson Sage too much to stop making the products.  Leaving down sizing the only option.

I feel very blessed that I am am able to make the transition to a smaller business for Jackson Sage, while maintaining all the aspects of the business I love.

If you need a website, mention this post and save 20% off your web design!

Kiwi & Pomegranate Masque

For All Skin Types
•Jackson Sage Tea Tree Microscrub 1/2 tsp
•Kiwi & Pomegranate Puree 1/2
tsp
•Jackson Sage Rose & Honey Cleanser 3 pumps
•Jackson Sage Lavender Serum 4 drops
•Honey 1/2 tsp

Directions
Kiwi & Pomegranate Puree
Mix 1 Kiwi and 3 TBS Pomegranate Juice in a Blender. Refrigerate remaining
or add to a smoothie.
Masque
Mix ingredients together. Cleanse face with Rose Cleanser. Mist face with Rose and Aloe Hydrating Mist. Leave face damp from Hydrating Mist. Apply masque in a circular motion to face, avoid eyes. Leave on for 5-10 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
Post Masque Care
Mist face with Rose and Aloe Hydrating Mist. Add two drops of Lavender Serum to a pea size
amount of Lavender Skin Cream, apply to face.

Highlights of Additional Ingredients
* Shiitake Mushroom Extract (in the Rose Serum): increase cell turnover, improve firmness and hydration, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles
* Atlantic Kelp (in the Tea Tree MicroScrub): Helps to remove toxins, and improves skins elasticity
* Licorice Root Extract (in the Rose Cleanser): anti-inflammatory and moisturizer, and brightens and lightens skin
* Rice Bran (in the Tea Tree MicroScrub): A gentle exfoliate that helps to prevent
wrinkles, heal blemishes, absorb dirt and balance oils.

Want to increase your chances to win? Here are ways to have extra entries. Make sure you leave a separate comment for each item you do and each time you do it.?Extra Entries that you can do more than once for the life of the contest:?(Please leave a separate entry for each one/time you do this):
* Use the Share button below, Leave a link or User name. Do as many or as few as you like- this one can be done more than once
Extra Entries: (You can only do the extra entries once for the life of the contest. Please leave a separate comment for each or it will not count as multiple entries.)
* Subscribe to Jackson Sage Newsletter.
* Follow Jackson Sage on Twitter
* Follow Doggie Sage on Twitter.
* Tweet this contest
* Become a fan of Jackson Sage on Facebook
* Become a fan of Doggie Sage on Facebook

The official rules:
1) A no purchase is necessary;
2) Start and end date are as follows: Start 2.1.10- End 4.31.10, Start 5.1.10- End 8.31.10, Start 9.1.10- End 12.31.10
3) Must be 18 years or old and a resident of the United States of America;
4) No purchase necessary, just sign up by posting a comment on the Jackson Sage Blog;
5) See above for how to enter;
6) odds of winning depend on the number of entries;
7) prize is a $25 gift certificate to shop online at jacksonsageshope.com;
you will be notified by a blog post. Once notified, you have 48 hours to respond to claim your prize;
9) No restrictions apply other than those previously listed;
10) winner will be picked using http://www.random.org;
11) When making a comment on post you agree to the contest rules;
12) and Sponsored by Jackson Sage Botanical Skin Care, Richmond, VA, www.jacksonsageshoppe.com

**** We reserve the right to cancel any order due to ineligible use of coupon code and to modify or cancel this offer due to technical error or unforeseen problems. Void where prohibited. Other restrictions may apply.

Updated 2.3.2009

(changes from Original Rule are length of time to respond, and length of time between contest (was monthly and now is every three months)

But here is my New Year’s Resolution. I voe to post one thing each week that I am personally working on to be happier and healthier. Each weeks goal will not be a mountain to climb, but one small healthy habit that I need to try to integrate into my life (or reintegrate) for that week. I will try to keep that healthy goal going after that week but the goal is to integrate healthy habits in small doses to make trying healthy habits the goal not just for one habit to stick.

Each week will be simple goals, and if you want you can try some of the goals as well. Or post in the comments your goals for the year, month, day, week. Or give me a suggestions for a healthy goal of the week.

———————————————————————————————-

Enter the 2010 Resolution Contest by making comments on posting!

See official rules here>>>>

See our live spot on Virginia This Morning on December 12.08.09 between 9-10 am. Where you can see how to make a Lip Balm step by step and hear more about our wonderful vendors!

Lip Balm Recipe by Jackson Sage
Use this simple and fun recipe as gifts, to promote and event or company, or party invites.
This recipe fills 24- .15 oz lip balm tubes.

Step 1: Create Lip Balms

Supplies:

4 fl oz Sweet Almond Oil
4 TBS Beeswax
1- 1.5 tsp of flavoring (Essential oils such as Peppermint, Lime, Lemon, Sweet Orange, Eucalyptus)

Directions:
Add Beeswax and Sweet Almond Oil into a glass measuring cup.

Microwave approximately one minute till beeswax is melted.

Add Flavoring and stir.
Pour into lip balm tubes.

Let cool. If you spill some down the side, let cool and then wipe away.

Where to purchase supplies:
From Nature with Love
SKS Bottles

Step 2: Create Labels

Supplies:

White Full Sheet of Labels (such as Avery 8255
X-acto knife (can use scissors)
Cutting Mat
Label template download. Click here to download.

Directions:
Once lip balms are cool, about an hour, you can add the labels.
Import Label template to word processing program.
Create labels.
Print on highest Quality.
Cute with X-acto knife. Apply to Lip Balm Tubes.

Hints and tips:
Want a firmer lip balm, add more beeswax. Too hard, add more oil.
To test how hard or soft your lip balm will be, after heating oil and beeswax and before poring, place a small amount on a spoon and place in freezer for a few minutes. When it cools you can test the consistency of the mixture.
If oils harden in your mixing jar while pouring into containers, just place back into the microwave for a few more seconds to re-melt.
Mint Essential oils will tingle the lips, less may be more.
Citrus Oils are lighter in scent.

Pumpkins get their rich color from Beta Carotene, a precursor to Vitamin A, making Pumpkins a star free radical scavenger. Free radical scavengers help protect the skin from oxidation which causes skin to become dry and dehydrated. Pumpkin’s natural enzymes unclog pores, remove impurities, and soften skin. Pumpkin Seeds are rich in Fatty Acids that aid in collagen production, while reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

Pumpkin and Apple Masque
For All Skin Types- Dry
Honey 1 tsp
Pumpkin Puree 1 tsp
Lavender Microscrub 1/2 tsp
Apple Juice 1/4 tsp
Rose Serum 5 drops

Directions
Mix ingredients together. Cleanse face with Rose Cleanser. Mist face with Rose and Aloe Hydrating Mist. Leave face damp from Hydrating Mist. Apply masque in a circular motion to face, avoid eyes. Leave on for 5-10 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Post Masque Care
Mist face with Rose and Aloe Hydrating Mist. Add two drops of Rose Serum to a pea size amount of Rose Skin Cream, apply to face.

Highlights of Additional Ingredients
Shiitake Mushroom Extract (in the Tea Tree Serum): increase cell turnover, improve firmness and hydration, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles
Atlantic Kelp (in the Lavender MicroScrub): Helps to remove toxins, and improves skins elasticity
Pumpkin Seed Extract (in the Rose Serum): Smoothes fine lines and wrinkles
Rice Bran ( in the Lavender MicroScrub): A gentle exfoliate that helps to prevent wrinkles, heal blemishes, absorb dirt and balance oils.

It is really amazing how on this earth there are so many wonderful plants that offer us their gifts each and every year.

We had fun making and learning about seasonal facial masques and of course Jackson Sage products.

Everyone received awesome goodies bag with a 2 oz sample of Jackson Sage Body Cream, sample size soap, and great goodies provided by Whole Foods from vitamins, coupons and even Shampoo samples! (Doggie Sage samples were provided as well for those with pooches!)

Each bag had our special Fall Face Treats Recipe Book that included three seasonal masques that combined the power of fresh fruits and vegetables with the herbal power of Jackson Sage products.

A very special thank you to those that organized and hosted the event- Whole Foods, Stephanie, Beth and Lauren.

Look for more seasonal events in the future!

Join Erika Hollen, all natural skincare expert and creator of Richmond’s own Jackson Sage, at Whole Foods on Thursday October 22 at 7 pm for Fall Face Treats!

Erika will help you prep your skin for winter with samples of moisturizing soaps, Soften Up Skin Salve and her Rose Skin Cream (that features pumpkin extract).

She’ll even teach you how to customize your skin care at home with mix and match recipes using Jackson Sage lotions, toners, scrubs and serums along with ingredients you can find in your kitchen!

Mini hand facials, lots of great-smelling goodies, and guaranteed soft skin are all part of the fall fun.

Be sure to RSVP to reserve your gift!

This is open ot everyone, so please feel free to invite your friends.

Four ways to RSVP:
1. Facebook
2. Blog on top right
3. Add a comment to Blog
4. Send me a message